Venue Manager

Pony Dining; The Rocks; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pony Dining in The Rocks, Sydney, seeks a hands-on Venue Manager to lead from the floor, elevating every service and upholding the Pony standard.

This role reports to the Group General Manager and focuses on daily operations, team development, bookings management, and delivering unforgettable guest experiences across wine, food, and fire-driven dining.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Venue Manager or Restaurant Manager in premium/high-volume venues.
• Strong understanding of service flow and guest experience.
• Calm, organised, and able to perform under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all front-of-house services across dining room and bar.
• Drive exceptional, consistent guest experiences across every service.
• Manage floor flow, section allocation and real-time decision making.
• Run pre-service briefings and post-service debriefs.
• Coach, develop and support supervisors and floor team members.
• Handle guest feedback, complaints and service recovery with professionalism.
• Collaborate with Reservations to manage bookings, events and group reservations.
• Monitor labour against rosters and shift budgets.
• Ensure accurate use of Lightspeed POS, OpenTable, and Deputy.
• Identify upselling opportunities to drive average spend per head.

Job description

At Pony, dining is more than food on a plate. It's a sensory experience shaped by fire, atmosphere, and connection.

For over 20 years, we've been known across Sydney for bold, fire-driven cooking, premium produce, and vibrant dining energy, a philosophy built around fire, flavour, and experience.

Our flagship venue at The Rocks is one of Sydney's most recognised dining destinations, and we're looking for an exceptional Venue Manager to lead from the floor and deliver the Pony standard every single service.

The Role

This is a hands-on leadership role where guest experience, team culture, and service excellence are the highest priority. You'll be at the centre of daily operations, running the floor, developing your team, and ensuring every guest leaves having had an unforgettable experience.

Reporting to the Group General Manager, you'll play a key role in driving consistent service standards, supporting revenue growth, and building a high-performance front-of-house team.

What You'll Be Doing

Lead and coordinate all FOH services across the dining room and bar

Drive exceptional, consistent guest experiences across every service

Manage floor flow, section allocation, and real-time decision making

Run pre-service briefings and post-service debriefs

Coach, develop, and support supervisors and floor team members

Handle guest feedback, complaints, and service recovery with professionalism

Work closely with Reservations systems to execute bookings, events, and group reservations

Monitor labour against roster and shift budgets

Ensure accurate and effective use of Lightspeed POS, OpenTable, and Deputy

Identify upselling opportunities and drive average spend per head

What We're Looking For

Proven experience as a Venue Manager or Restaurant Manager in a premium or high-volume venue

Strong understanding of service flow, guest experience, and team development

Confident communicator with excellent problem-solving ability

Calm and organised under pressure

Genuine passion for hospitality, food, and wine

Impeccable presentation and attention to detail

What We Offer

A landmark Sydney venue with a loyal, high-energy guest base

Supportive leadership and a team that genuinely cares about the craft

Real opportunity to grow within the Pony Dining group

A culture built around excellence, accountability, and great hospitality

The Details

Availability required across evenings, weekends, and public holidays